Oil and gas separator



Oct. 9, 1945. w. P. MUNK OIL AND GAS SEPARATOR Filed June 9, 1941 llllraillvl Patented Oct. t9, 1945` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL AND GAS SEPARATOR William Paul Munk, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,272 V1o claims. (Cl. 10s-203) This invention relates to oil and gas separators for use in combination with pumps ln oil wells.

IA primary object of this invention is to provide oil and gas separators that are simple in construction yet eiective in operation.

Another object of` this invention is to provide, in oil and gas separators of the type employing a down-pass space for oil and gas separation and an up-pass space for pump uid, a construction that avoids the use of pipes in the down-pass space, to provide a full-transverse-area downpass space and yet eliminate turbulence and gas locking and provide orderly separation action A further object of vthis invention is to provide a down-pass oil and gas separation space, in oil and gas separators of the type having the downpass oil and gas separation space at the top of the pumpinginstrumentality, of a transverse area favorably rcomparable with that of oil and gas separators having the down-pass oil and gas separation space positioned below the pumping instrumentality. n

And a further object of this invention is to provide a construction with oil and gas separators, having the down-pass oil and gas separation space positioned at the top of the pumping instrumentality, means to eliminate flexing of the pumping instrumentality, during imposition of lateralV load in off-vertical wells, that would hasten wearing out of the pumping instrumentality.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the speciiication proceeds.

For la better 4understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one form of my improved oil and gas separator;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of my improved oil and gas separator;

Figure 3 is a vertical section/a1 view illustrating another form of my improved oil and gas separator; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating still another form of my improved oil and gas separator.

In Figure 1:

I is a fragmentary portion of the usual well tubing or eduction pipe.

2 is a shoe attached to the lower end of the tubing I by the usual tubing coupling 3.

4 is a separator barrel having internal threads at its upper and lower ends. 'Ihe upper threads secure the separator barrel 4 to the `shoe 2, while the lower threads receive the plug 5.

6 is a hold down for a standing valve or a pump and attached thereto and suspended therefrom is a flow pipe 1.

Flow pipe 1 forms the down-pass space 8 for oil and gas separation and also the up-pass space 9 for pump fluid, all within the barrel d.

l0 is a bale plate in the down-pass space 8 and attached to the inner wall of the separator barrel I I and I2 are openings or perforations, through the separator barrel 4 above and below the baile plate In, serving to communicate the well and the down-pass space 8.

in action, iiuid or oil and gas entrained in the oil enters through perforations II into the upper section of down-pass space 8. Separation of gas and oil occurs and gas vents through the uppermost of the perforations II and back to the well,

eventually to pass up between the well tubing I and the usual casing (not shown) about well tubing I and out the head (not shown). The specic gravity of the fluid in this space has been changed, due to separation of gas from the.oil

`and venting of the gas, and, the uid being now heavier, iiows downward in this space 8. Baie plate I0 directs the fluid and causes it to flow downward on the outer wall of the flow pipe l. Simultaneously fluid enters through the uppermost jof the perforations I2 and into the lower section of down-pass 8 to join with and be carried downward by the uid flowing downward on the outer wall of pipe 1. During this downward move.. ment of the iiuid on the outer wall of the flow pipe 1 the oil clings to the outer wall'of the flow pipe 1 and the gas, being lighter or of less speciiic gravity than the oil, separates to the outer. side of the iilm of iiuid flowing downward on the outer wall of now pipe 1. Downward movement of the iilm of fluid continues and the oil enters the down-pass space 8 below the lowermost of the perforations I2 while the gas is displaced through the lowermost of the perforations I2 and is vented back to the well. Because of the action just described it will be readily seen that gas locking in the lower section of the down-pass space 6 is avoided. And further, because of the baille plate space 8 and venting of gas through perforations I2 and back to the well are thus facilitated, for

the reason that there is no relatively thick iilm of oil, as in ordinary anchors or separators, flowing downward on the inner wall of the separator barrel 4 and through which incoming uid and outgoing gas would have to pass during the separating operation.

The baille plate construction also permit; orderly separation f the gas from the oil, avoids turbulence and also eliminates gas locking. This is so by reason of the uid coursing downward on the outer wall of the flow pipe 1, as disclosed earlier herein, so that gas, suchI as may still be entrained in the oil and ready for further separation from the oil and venting back to the well, is positioned between the heavier uid coursing downward on' the outer wall of the flow pipe 1 and the separator barrel 4, and therefore is freethere being no relatively thick obstructive film of oil on the inner wall of the separator barrel 4- to move through the perforations I2 and back to the well. 'Ihis construction eliminates the use of pipes in the down-pass space 8 andthereby permits a full transverse-area down-pass space required for the satisfactory handling of large volumes of gassy fluid.

In Figure 2:

The drawing illustrates an inserted baille plate separator. Lateral extensions I8 attached to the flow pipe 1 attach the baille plate I4 (all by welding) to the flow pipe 1, thus acting to hold the` baille plate I4 in proper position in the separator barrel I5. Unscrewing of the inserted top collar I8 enables the flow pipe 1 and the attached baille plate I4 to be withdrawn from the separator barrel I5, for the purpose of cleaning, should this be required. 'I'his construction also serves to centralize the iiow pipe 1 in the separator barrel I5.

If desired now pipe 1 may be welded to collar I6, which in turn may be welded to barrel I5, and likewise baiiie plate I4 may be welded onto barrel I to provide an integral separator construction.

In Figure 3:

The drawing illustrates the use of my invention With top-of-the-pump type separators, the separator barrel construction remaining the same as that illustrated in the Figure 1. In this separator the barrel 4 is positioned between the top of the pumping instrumentality I1 and the bottom of the shoe 2. The pumping instrumentality I1 suspends from a tubular assembly comprised of tubes I8, of substantially equal lengths and of relatively less outer diameter than the pumping instrumentality I1, and the coupling v20 about the tubes'I8, which tubular assembly in turn suspends from the hold down 8. The pump rod I9 extending through the tubular assembly serves to actuate the pumping instrumentality I1. Cou'pling 20 about tubes I8 and the hold down 6 and also the coupling 2I at the top of the pumping instrumentality I1 are of less inner diameter than the tubes I8 and prevent the pump rod I9 from wearing holes in the tubes I8 that would cause their failure.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to provide a tubular assembly having but one long tube only between the hold down 5 and the pumping instrumentality I1, instead of the two short tubes I8 and the coupling 20. In this case an alloyed metallic anti-wear ring retained in the mid-portion of the single tube by welding may be substituted for the coupling 20.

A down-pass space 22 for oil and gas separation, of a transverse larea favorably comparable f ameters less than the inner diameter of barrel 4) attaches to the bottom of the separator barrel 4 and terminates at its lower end with the coupling 25 and the plug 5. The jacket 24, the coupling 25, the plug 5, the pumping instrumentality I1 and the coupling 2| form a passage for uid to go from the oil and gas separation space 22 into the pumping instrumentality I1. Collar 28 about jacket 24, of the same outer diameter as coupling 3, separator barrel 4, and coupling 25, enable the well casing (not shown) to support the Jacket so that the jacket in turn can support the pumping instrumentality I1, when subjected to lateral load in oil-vertical wells, to prevent flexing of the pumping instrumentality I1, which would hasten its wearing out.

By raising of the rod Ils beyond the normal reciprocal range of the pumping instrumentality I1, the plunger with the pumping instrumentality engages couplingZI and pulls the assembled parts or hold down 8, tube I8, coupling 2|, and the pumping instrumentality I1 from the tubing, for the purpose of repair or replacement. The baille plate construction I0 in no way interferes with this operation.

In Figure 4:

The barrel 4 has been lengthened. Cradle 21 in barrel 4 and about the pumping instrumentality I1 forms a passage, of greater transverse area than that of the plunger with pumping instrumentality I1, for uid to go from the oil and gas separation space 22 into pumping instrumentality I1.

Because of the full outer diameter of barrel 4 (as compared to tubing coupling 3) the barrel 4 receives support from the well casing (not shown) and with cradle 21 enables the pumping instrumentality I1 to be centralized in barrel 4 and also to be supported when subjected to lateral load in off-vertical wells, to prevent flexing of the pumping instrumentality I1, which would-hasten its wearing out.

'I'he cradle 21, as shown in Figure 4, is retained in the barrel 4 by welding; however, if desired, the cradle may be made insertable and withdrawable from the barrel 4, the plug 5 acting to retain the said last mentioned type of cradle in barrel 4.

The guide 28 acts to centralize the pump rod I9 in the well tubing I and 28 acts to couple the usual rod (not shown) which lextends to the ground surface and is provided to actuate the pumping instrumentality.

While I have shown but one baille plate with each of the separators illustrated in the various figures, I wish that it be understood that more than one baille plate may be employed to improve the all around efficiency of the separators. It will be noted that with one baille plate but two perforated barrel sections (barrel sections having perforations II and I2) are employed; however, if two baille plates are employed three perforated barrel sections will be required and if three baille plates are employed four perforated barrel sections will be required, etc.

The invention is susceptible to changes and variations and this may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Attention is directed to my co-pending Patent 2,339,748, January 18, 1944, in which pump structure is shown comprising: a pump column in the casing of a well; a, closure at the lower end of the pump column; a pumping instrumentality in the pump column above the closure; an oil and gas separation chamber inthe pump column and substantially above the working pump space in the pumping instrumentality; a passage between the pumping instrumentality and the pump column andthe closure, to communicate the oil and gas separation space and the interiorl of the v pumping instrumentality; and perforations in the pump column to communicate the oil and gas separation space and the well, wherebyoil and gas are admitted from the well through the perforations and into the oil and gas separation space and gas is vented therefrom and back to the well. The above noted structure is similar to structure 'shown in the Figures 3 and 4 of the present application as follows: Separator barrel l, jacket 24, plug 5, pumping instrumentality I1,

. space in communication with the space exterior oil andgas separation space 22 and perforations Il or I2, respectively.

My Patent 2,339,748 also shows structure comprising supporting means in the pump column, in addition to retaining means for the pumping instrumentality, capable of coacting with the retaining means to prevent misalignment oil the j pumping instrumentality .in respect to the pump column or well tubing, and it also shows a passage, between the pumping instrumentality and the supporting means and the pump column and the closure, for communicating the above men'- tioned oil and gas separation chamber and the interior of the' pumping instrumentality. Similarly the present application has the shoe 2, the hold down 6, the cradle 21 and the passage between the cradle 21 and the separator barrel and the pumping instrumentality and the plug 5 (see Figure 4 of the present application) What is claimed is: c

, 1. A deep well oil and gas separator', comprising: a separator barrel; means providing a wall in said separator barrel and capable of cooperatin with said separator barrel to form a downpass space vfor separation of gas from oil; means in said separator barrel and adapted to iorman up-pass space for pump iluid; a baille in said down-pass space and adapted to divide saiddownpass space into upper and lower sections; means providing a passage placing the bottom of the upper section of said down-pass space in communication with the top of the lower section of said down-pass space; openings in said'separator barrel above and below said baille, said openings placing the upper and the lower sections of said down-pass space in communication with thev space exterior to said separator barrel; and the improvement which comprises having said passage adapted to direct fluid from the upper section of said down-pass space downwardly onto said wall in the upper portion of the lower section of said down-pass space so as to enable flow of such iluid downwardly on said wall in the upper portion of the lower section of said down-pass spaceand so as to substantially avoid ow of such fluid downwardly on the inner wall of said separator barrel between said baille and the lowermost of said openings in said separator barrel.

2. A deep well oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel; a tube in said separator barrel; a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and located between said tube and said separator barrel; an up-pass space for pu'mp iluid and located in said tube; an annular baie plate in said down-pass space and adapted to cooperate withsaid separator barrel to divide said down-pass space into upper and lower sections and spaced from said tube to provide an annular passage between said baille plate and said tube.

' divide said down-pass space to said separator barrel.

3. A deep well oil and ing: a separator barrel; barrel; a down-pass space 4for separation of gas from oil and located between said tube and said separator barrel; an up-pass space for pump fluid and positionedfin said tube; an annular baille plate in .said down-pass space and adapted to into upper and lower sections and spaced from said tube to provide a passage placing the bottom of the upper section of said down-pass space in communication with gas separator, compristhe top of the lower section of said down-pass space in such manner as pass space;

to enable iluid, moving downwardly fromethe upper section of said down-- pass space. to be directed substantially circumferentially onto the outer wallof said tube in the upper portion of the lower section of said downopenings in said separator barrel above and below said baille plate, said lopenings placing the upper and the lower sections of said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel and means on said baille plate adapted to centralize saidtube in respect to said separator barrel. Y

4. In combination with a .well tubing having a shoe, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel secured at its upper end to said shoe and having a closure atits lower end; an inserted pump having a. hold down in said shoe, a pumping instrumenta ty in said separator barrel, an open-ended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said hold down, a rod to actuate said pumping instrumentality and extending from said pumping instrumentality upwardly through said openended tube and through said hold down, means with said open-ended tube and adapted to prevent wear of said open-ended tube by said rod during the actuation of said pumping instrumentality, and an up-pass space for pump fluid and located in said inserted pump; a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and positioned between said shoe and said inserted pump and said separator barrel; openings in said separator barrel about said openended tube, said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space. exterior to said separator barrel; and the improvement which comprises having said openended tube of relatively less outer diameter than said pumping instrumentality whereby an in.- crease -in transverse area of that portion lof said down-pass space between said separator barreland said open-ended tube is secured.

5. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel secured to the lower end of said well tubing and l having a closure at its lowerend; a pump assembly having retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing to hold said pump assembly in said separator barrel, a pumping instrumentality a tube in said separator in said separator barrel, an open-ended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said retaining means, a rod to actuate said pumping instrumentality and extending from said pumping instrumentality upwardly through said open-ended tube and through said retaining means. and an up-pass space for pump uid and located in said pump assembly: a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and positioned between said pump assembly and said separator barrel; openings in said separator barrel about said open-ended tube, said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel; and the improvement which comprises having said open-ended tube of relatively less cuter diameter than said pumping instrumentality whereby an increase in transverse area of that portion of said down-pass space between said separator barrel and said open-ended tube is secured.

6. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel of substantially the same outer diameter as said well tubing and secured to the lower end of said well tubing and having a closure at its lower end; a pump assembly having retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing to hold said pump assembly in said separator barrel, a pumping instrumentality in said separator barrel, an openended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said retaining means, a rod to actuate said pumping instrumentality and extending from said pumping instrumentality upwardly through said open-ended tube and through said retaining means, and an up-pass space for pump iluid and located in said pump assembly; and the improvement which comprises having supporting means between said pumping instrumentality and said separator barrel, said supporting means being capable of coacting with said retaining means to substantially prevent misalignment of said pumping instrumentality and said open-ended tube in respect to said separator barrel, a down-pass space for separation ci.' gas from oil and positioned between said retaining means and said spporting means and between those portions of said pump assembly and said comprises having supporting means between said pumping instrumentality and said separator barrel, said supporting means being capable of coacting with said retaining means to substantially prevent misalignment of said pumping instrumentality and said open-ended tube in respect to said separator barrel, a down-pass space for sepai ration of gas from oil and positioned between said open-ended tube and said separator barrel and said retaining means and said supporting means and said pumping instrumentality, a passage between said pumping instrumentality and said supporting means and said separator barrel and said closure, said passage placing said down-pass space in communication with the interior of said pumping instrlmientality, and openings in said separator barrel about said open-ended tube, said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior tovsaid separator barrel, and having said open-ended tube of relatively less o'uter diameter than said pumping instrumentality whereby an increase in transverse separator barrel between said retaining means and said supporting means, a passage between t said pumping instrumentality and said supporting means and said separator barrel and said closure, said passage placing said down-pass space in communication with the interior of said pumping instrumentality, and openings in said separator barrel about said down-pass space, said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel.

'1. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel of substantially the same outer diameter as said well tubing and secured to the lower end of said well tubing and having a closure at its lower end; a pump assembly having retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing to hold said pump assembly in said separator barrel, a pumping instrumentality in said separator barrel, an openended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said retaining means, a rod to actuate said pumping instru- -mentality and extending from said pumping instrumentality upwardly through said open-ended tube and through said retaining means, and an up-pass space for pump iiuid and located in said pump assembly; and the improvement which area of said down-pass space is secured.

8. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel secured to the lower end of said well tubing and having a closure at its lower end; a pump assembly having retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing to hold said pump assembly in said separator barrel, a pumping instrumentality in said separator barrel, an open-ended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said retaining means, a rod to actuate said pumping instrumentality and extending from said pumping linstrumentality upwardly through said open-ended tube and through said retaining means, and an up-pass space for pump fluid and located in said pump assembly; a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and positioned between said pump assembly and said separator barrel; and the improvement which comprises'having said open-ended tube of relatively less outer diameter than said pumping lnstrumentality whereby an increase in transverse area of that portion of said down-pass space between said separator barrel and said open-ended tube is secured, an annular balile plate in that portion of said down-pass space between said separator barrel and said open-ended tube and adapted to cooperate with said separator barrel to divide such portion of said down-pass space into upper and lower sections and also spaced from said open-ended tube to provide an annular passage between said baille plate and said openended tube, said annular passage placing the bottom of the upper section of said down-pass space in communication with the top of the lower section of said down-pass space, and openings in said separator barrel above and below said baille plate, said openings placing the upper and the lower sections of said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel.

9. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separtor, comprisingaa separator barrel of substantially the same outer diameter as said well tubing and secured to the lower end of said well tubing and having a, closure at its lower end; a pump spacedly positioned in said separator barrel; retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing and secured to the upper end of said pump and holding said pump in said separator barrel; a rod to actuate said pump; an up-pass space for pump 'fluid and located in said pump; and the improvement which comprises having a pipe included with said separator barrel and oi relatively less inner diameter than said separator barrel and l making a loose tting non-sealing fit with and surrounding said pump and capable of co-acting with said retaining means to substantially prevent misalignment of said pump in respect to said separator barrel, a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and positioned between said pump and said retaining means and said separator barrel and said pipe, openings in said separator barrel about said down-pass space,'said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel, and a passage between said pump and said pipe and said closure, said passage placing said down-pass space in communication with the interior of said pump.

.10. In combination with a well tubing, an oil and gas separator, comprising: a separator barrel of substantially the same outer diameter as said well tubing and secured to the-lower end oi said well tubing and having a closure at its lower end; a pump assembly having retaining means at the lower end of said well tubing to hold said pump assembly in said separator barrel, a pumping instrumentality spacedly positioned in said separator barrel, an open-ended tube intermediately between and connecting said pumping instrumentality to said retaining means, a rod to actuate said pumping instrumentality and extending from said pumping instrumentality upwardly through said open-ended tube and through said retaining means, and an up-pass space for pump iluid and located in said pump assembly; and the improvement which comprises having a pipe included with said separator barrel and of relatively less inner diameter than said separator barrel and making a loose tting non-sealing fit with and surrounding said pumping instrumentality and adapted to co-act with said retaining means to substantially prevent misalignment of said pumping instrumentality and said open-ended tube in respect to said separator barrel, a down-pass space for separation of gas from oil and located between said open-ended tube and said retaining means and said separator barrel and said pipe, openings in said separator barrel about said down-pass space, said openings placing said down-pass space in communication with the space exterior to said separator barrel, and a. passage between said pumping instrumentality and said pipe and said closure, said passage placing said down-pass space in communication with the interior of said pumping instrumentality.

WILLIAM PAUL MUNK. 

